I think this song is sung as a conversation from a woman accused of being a witch to a woman about to be accused of the same. I've seen people reference the Salem trials, but I don't think it's referencing those events, at least not directly. The clothing in the video is more reminiscent of 1800's than late 1600's, and the setting of the deep South rather than Massachusetts. But there is a supernatural element suggestive of witchcraft right in the opening moments of the video, when men burst into the home of a young woman combing her hair and she turns towards them--and her reflection does not. Although the idea that the woman is a witch is not made explicitly, men coming for a woman who is not what she seems combined with the demonic imagery in the form of masks and men with black eyes would strongly suggest something like an accused witch or devil worshiper.
Now to the actual song. Starting with the verse "If you get sleep...", the two lines about the cock calling is a warning from the singer that some momentous event is about to happen, regardless of whether you are ready for it or not. This is followed in the next two lines by a warning that signs indicate a threat approaches, so you should prepare to defend yourself. The final lines in the first verse suggest that the threat will bring gods holy vengeance. The line about first born sons being a reference to the plagues of Egypt and "His hair's on fire" suggestive of gods seraphim, or "fiery ones", angels. In other words, the men who come for you bring, or believe they bring, god's wrath.
The next lines about going to the river evoke the concept of baptism, as others have pointed out. But there's a little more to it, I think. Witches were seen as concubines of the devil. The devil, in turn, was seen as the opposite of god, and much of the imagery about worshiping the devil involved the twisting or perversion of elements of faith. In this case, the song references baptism in the river, but explicitly defies the act of purification by twisting it into something hateful and defiant, suggesting that you should "Drive your son like a railroad spike" under the water and make the act one of murder instead. It gets even more angry in the next verse, comparing the men bringing god's judgement to drunken wolves and suggesting that if the wolves are at your door, you defy them instead of accepting their judgement and drown so many of them without mercy that the waters of the river rise.
Finally, the refrain of "Hold my hand" is what makes me think that the singer is singing the song for another woman about to face the same treatment. The bottom of the river, I suspect, is a reference to drowning, a common "test" for witches. But it could also be your fall from god, and the singer is offering the listener a guide. She will hold your hand all the way down, comforting and guiding you to your vengeance and damnation at the bottom.
I think this song is sung as a conversation from a woman accused of being a witch to a woman about to be accused of the same. I've seen people reference the Salem trials, but I don't think it's referencing those events, at least not directly. The clothing in the video is more reminiscent of 1800's than late 1600's, and the setting of the deep South rather than Massachusetts. But there is a supernatural element suggestive of witchcraft right in the opening moments of the video, when men burst into the home of a young woman combing her hair and she turns towards them--and her reflection does not. Although the idea that the woman is a witch is not made explicitly, men coming for a woman who is not what she seems combined with the demonic imagery in the form of masks and men with black eyes would strongly suggest something like an accused witch or devil worshiper.
Now to the actual song. Starting with the verse "If you get sleep...", the two lines about the cock calling is a warning from the singer that some momentous event is about to happen, regardless of whether you are ready for it or not. This is followed in the next two lines by a warning that signs indicate a threat approaches, so you should prepare to defend yourself. The final lines in the first verse suggest that the threat will bring gods holy vengeance. The line about first born sons being a reference to the plagues of Egypt and "His hair's on fire" suggestive of gods seraphim, or "fiery ones", angels. In other words, the men who come for you bring, or believe they bring, god's wrath.
The next lines about going to the river evoke the concept of baptism, as others have pointed out. But there's a little more to it, I think. Witches were seen as concubines of the devil. The devil, in turn, was seen as the opposite of god, and much of the imagery about worshiping the devil involved the twisting or perversion of elements of faith. In this case, the song references baptism in the river, but explicitly defies the act of purification by twisting it into something hateful and defiant, suggesting that you should "Drive your son like a railroad spike" under the water and make the act one of murder instead. It gets even more angry in the next verse, comparing the men bringing god's judgement to drunken wolves and suggesting that if the wolves are at your door, you defy them instead of accepting their judgement and drown so many of them without mercy that the waters of the river rise.
Finally, the refrain of "Hold my hand" is what makes me think that the singer is singing the song for another woman about to face the same treatment. The bottom of the river, I suspect, is a reference to drowning, a common "test" for witches. But it could also be your fall from god, and the singer is offering the listener a guide. She will hold your hand all the way down, comforting and guiding you to your vengeance and damnation at the bottom.